Tag Archives: Venus

Today the powerful and wise energy of the nawal Kan is tempered by the earthy and stable energy of the number 4. This can be one of the most favourable Kan days with an extremely useful energy.

Sometimes Kan days are difficult to negotiate. The power of this nawal can lead to occasional misjudgements of its application. Sometimes more energy than required is used to resolve a situation, which may cause further problems. However, today that is unlikely to be the case. The number 4 is considered to be on the calmer side of the trecena, between 1 and 5, sometimes thought of as the weaker side. However, it has very material properties which can bring the earth wisdom of Kan into the everyday realm, bringing the body lightning very much into the body. This could be seen as an Earth magic day, using primal energy to create physical stability, it can very much relate to the four sky serpents bringing the energy from the sky to the Earth, a day when the vision serpents may bring wisdom from the Heart of the Sky.

Due to the favourable and stable qualities associated with the number 4, the use of either power or wisdom to resolve an issue may work out well on this day. It is important to remember the strength of this nawal and that a little goes a long way – don’t overdo it. If in doubt, choose wisdom over power.

The energy of Kan can manipulate through the illusions it creates, however, it is also the energy of Kan that helps us to see through the illusions created by others. Today stable, down-to-Earth wisdom may identify areas when we are being subjected to the illusions or manipulation of others, particularly those in power, or trying to have power over us. This common sense can be used to break through these illusions in order to bring empowerment to the many rather than the few.

Casting light into the darkness may be of particular interest today, as Venus reaches its maximum western elongation, its greatest height in the morning sky. The brilliance of the morning star reaches its greatest power to illuminate, so bright that it may even cast shadows. Although it is not the true light of the Sun, it is possible that this light may bring to attention the foundations on which some of the illusions are based.

Kan is one of the more powerful nawales and it represents just that – power. It is connected to serpents, and serpent symbology is very strong in Maya mythology. In the past, lightning was referred to as sky serpents, and what is seen in the outer world is reflected by the inner world. The power of Kan comes from something which is referred to as itz or coyopa, the lightning in the blood. This is the power which may also be known as Ki, Chi, Prana, kundalini or “the force”. It is life force energy. Kundalini is a sanskrit word actually meaning coiled, like a snake. When working with any of these energies, training must be undertaken in order to understand how to use them. In it’s most positive aspect, the energy of Kan brings great wisdom; in it’s negative aspect, great destruction. A lack of understanding or control of this power can lead to undesirable consequences. The dark side of Kan can seduce with it’s power, and a very sexy power it is too, holding it’s prey in an almost hypnotic grip with it’s allure. It can become the ultimate ego trap.

However, it is also said that the feathered serpent Q’uq’umatz (also known as Kulkulkan or Quetzalcoatl) brought wisdom, through the sciences of astronomy and agriculture, to the ancient Maya. Here we see the positive aspect of Kan, where the ability to work with the body lightning brings great wisdom. People born on a Kan day can become some of the greatest healers or psychics, or they can become the darkest sorcerers and manipulators.

The number 4 is very important within Mayan mythology. Four represents the cardinal points, the four colours of maize, the four carriers of the year, the two equinoxes and two solstices, as well as midnight, sunrise, midday and sunset. The number four is representative of the four first men, who raised the sky from the sea to create the world we live on. In Mayan myth it is four pillars that support the sky from the Earth. As you can imagine, four is a number which represents stability, a solar number. Even though it is still low, it is thought of as a good number.

The cycle of Venus was of great importance to the ancient Maya, and often used to time ritual activities including warfare and sacrifices. Venus was generally seen to have an unsettling influence, particularly during the time of the heliacal rising of Venus.

Today we enter that period of potential turbulence, the first rising of Venus as the Morning Star. This is said to be the time when the influence of Venus “spears” certain victims. These victims are often leaders, and here, in combination with the nawal K’at, we might think of the influence of Venus leading to the capture of rogue leaders. Venus shines its bright light on the dark places, illuminating the things which have been hidden. It is possible that mistakes which were made during the inferior conjunction are highlighted now, especially if attempts have been made to cover them up. We may also expect a political downfall as a result of an earlier entrapment, something which may be symbolised by the influence of the energy of the nawal K’at.

This turmoil is affecting all of us on the planet, not just the leaders. Who ever holds “high position” would do well to avoid rushing into impassioned decisions or judgement during the first few days of the Morning Star.

The complete table within the Dresden codex covers 13 cycles of 5 synodic periods of Venus, a total of 37960 days or 104 years less 26 days. This means that the last time Venus reappeared as the Morning Star was 29th April 1913. In the classic system of year bearers, 1913 was also the year 5 Iq’, so we should expect a degree of resonance between that time and our time. According to Wikipedia:

April 29, 1913 (Tuesday) Germany’s Foreign Minister, Gottlieb von Jagow, said in a speech at the Reichstag that German would respect the guarantees of Belgium’s neutrality, followed by Minister of War Josias von Heeringen, who pledged that “Germany will not lose sight of the fact that the neutrality of Belgium is guaranteed by international treaty.”

Germany would invade Belgium fifteen months later on its entry into World War I on August 2, 1914.

August 2nd 1914 was 460 days after the first heliacal rise of Venus on the day 8 K’at. This was approximately in the middle of the Evening Star phase of Venus, on the day 13 K’at, and equates to the day 7th July 2018. It would seem that this is an important time to keep our wits about us with regards to the words of people in power, and where those words may lead.

Lord of the Heliacal Rise with his spear ready to strike down his victims, from the Dresden Codex

The cycle of Venus was of great importance to the ancient Maya, and often used to time ritual activities including warfare and sacrifices. Venus was generally seen to have an unsettling influence, particularly during the time of the heliacal rising of Venus.

Today is the first day of the inferior conjunction of Venus. Venus is passing between the Earth and the Sun, and as such will not be visible in our night sky. Since the day 10 Kame (19th July 2016) Venus has appeared in the west, just after sunset each night. From January onward it became a little lower each night and tonight it will be lost in the glare of the sunset for 8 days.

The inferior conjunction of Venus has coincided with some societal upheavals including the downfall of leaders occurring during or soon after. According to Bruce Scofield in his book How to Practice Mayan Astrology:

“Newsworthy events occurring at, or just after, the inferior conjunction are often characterized by impulsive human errors the lead to a levelling or crash of some sort.”

Today, the first day of the inferior conjunction happens on 13 Ajmak, a day very much associated with “human error”. The energy of the day 13 Ajmak gives a great potential for forgiveness, but this may ultimately be required as the energy of 13 Ajmak may also give rise to some of the greatest errors of all.

The phases of Venus 2017/2018, Starting at the inferior conjunction on 13 Ajmak (26th March 2017). By Mark Elmy

The nawal Kame represents transformation, particularly spiritual transformation, and today it is coupled with the number representing community. This could give a day of profound changes in society.

The energy of Kame assists transformation from one state of being to another. If these changes are embraced they can be moved through at a determined rate. However, one way or another they will happen. If they are constantly resisted, they may become enforced changes, transformations which happen suddenly and at a rate we have no control over. The end result may be the same, but the process may seem harsher.

The number 10 is seen as representing community and the laws of society. Today could be a day of profound, possibly spiritual, change within society in general. This could also represent the support of your community to help you through your own transformation and growth. It is representative of our ability to work together to assist each other through our changes, whether they are enforced or voluntary.

In addition to this energy of profound change in society, today is also the day within the Dresden Codex on which Venus returns to the sky as an evening star. Astronomically speaking, Venus has been a theoretically visible for a few days now. Tonight Venus should be the first time when it is clearly visible as an evening “star” for a few minutes, appearing from the glare of the Sun, only to set a few minutes after the Sun.

According to Bruce Scofield in the book How to Practice Mayan Astrology, Venus can represent the rise and fall of leaders. They describe the rise of a great leader, seen as a bright shining light who becomes so bright he gets lost in hedonism. This leads to his downfall and eventual exile, the rise and fall of the morning star. The superior conjunction is seen as a time of judgement and redressing the balance before the leader is born again, this time humble, mortal and obeying the laws of society as the evening star. Eventually he is sacrificed, the inferior conjunction, and once again is born as the rising light in the world.

With the energy of 10 Kame combining with the reappearance of Venus, it could signal end end to the trials which began on 11 Ajmak (20th April) with the superior conjunction of Venus. The light travelled through the underworld as the planet Venus disappeared behind the Sun, from the point of view from Earth. Now, the light returns, in the wisdom place of the west, possibly signifying the emergence of a steadying influences as society goes through a profound change. The trials during the preceding 80 days have humbled the false leaders, and now new wisdom emerges.

Additionally, we will be under the influence of the full moon, this time falling in the western sign of Capricorn. This is also a strong emphasis on responsibility, boundaries and structure. Once again we see a stabilising influence emerging after the time of trials, although this may occur by establishing new boundaries.

Venus appearing as an evening star for the first time after its journey behind the Sun relative to the Earth (Superior Conjunction)

Kame relates to death, which often makes people nervous. However, this nawal is seen as an extremely positive day. Birth is the gateway into the mortal life, death the gateway into the eternal. In many shamanistic traditions, the initiate goes through several death experiences during training. This can be through the use of particular herbs, or sometimes through accident or illness. In these experiences the density of the mortal realm falls away and the greater understanding emerges. It can often be described as a spiritual transformation. In the Popul Vuh, the Mayan book of creation, the Hero Twins descend to the underworld, Xibalba, to confront the Lords of Death. They pass the many challenges set for them, but eventually end up being tricked by the Lord of Death. Instead of giving in, the Hero Twins choose to sacrifice themselves. They give instructions to a pair of seers to convince the Lords of Death to grind the Twins’ bones to dust and throw the dust in the river. Everything went according to plan and five days later the twins appeared as catfish in the river, then transformed into vagabond “magicians”. In this way we see a literal transformation from the crusader (Tijax) through death (Kame) to the higher self (Ix). This is the potential of the Kame day, to face ones fears and attain a higher perspective, to advance the journey of your soul. This is also a day to remember your ancestors and friends that have passed into the other realm, to remember what they taught you, and to thank them for their wisdom that helped you to grow.

The number 10 is another number which demonstrates the connection between the sacred calendar and the human body. As five represents one hand, ten represents two hands coming together. This can be seen as the shaking of hands creating agreement between people. Ten is seen as a good number, a number of community and the laws of society, of people acting in harmony with each other.

The cycle of Venus was used by the ancient Maya to time many ritual practices, including war and sacrifice. The heliacal rising of Venus was seen as a particularly destructive and unsettled time. This was the time when full scale wars would begin. Venus has been rising heliacally since 9 Ajpu (28th August 2015). The period since the beginning of the heliacal rise of Venus seems to have been a great turmoil for many. It was at its peak brightness on September 20th 2015 and reached its greatest height (western elongation) on October 26th 2015 (3 Kawok), which could be seen as the height of its influence.

On the day 11 Ajmak (20th April 2016), according to the Dresden codex, Venus will cease to be a feature in our morning sky. The morning star will disappear to the underworld, only to reappear as the evening star on 10 Kame, 19th July 2016.

This is a time that could be seen as a respite from the disturbing influence that Venus has. It can be a time to look at what went wrong and see how to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. It is a time to evaluate ourselves, and the leaders of our society, a time to address our values and the values of the society we live in, and a time to redress the balance.

Whether you use the name Ajpu or Junajpu for this nawal, this combination gives the name Junajpu or Jun Junajpu, one of the legendary hero twins, or their father. Could this lead to a rather legendary day, and trecena?

There is a huge amount of symbolism within this day, and the majority of it could be considered to be favourable. With the number 1 representing the new emergence, the birth and Ajpu representing divinity, we can understand that there is an opportunity to bring something new and meaningful into the world today. The “child” which emerges today was delivered by 13 Kawok, the spirit midwife. Ajpu is art, it is beauty, it is the re-emergence of the sun after the storm. It is the resurrection of the maize, the new life and light in the world.

Of course, the number 1 represents potential, and this is what we see today, this is the seed which is planted. It is the beginning of the process, the first light of the fire. The ceremonial midpoint of this trecena is 8 Kej, the alternative initiation day of the Aj Q’ij, and the destination is 13 E’ – the spiritual path. With these days falling in the next two weeks, if is no surprise that it might be a time of powerful changes. Today the fire needs kindling, it needs tending gently in order to grow into the great light it could become. You have the potential to bring out the divine in your world, to see the holiness in everything around you. Today, you might just need to put in a little more effort to bring out the true light. It is there waiting for you to notice.

Nawal Ajpu is once again a nawal with a multitude of meanings and translations. In the Yucatec language it is known as Ahau, in Kiche is is also known as Junajpu. These are in turn variously translated into English as lord, hunter, blow gunner, flower and sun. Each one of the translations has it’s merits, and represents an aspect of this auspicious nawal.

Within the ancient Mayan society, the royals were not just political leaders of their particular city-states, they were priest-kings and priest-queens. They served as the conduit to the divine, deriving their wisdom for guiding their people through their connection with the Heart of the Earth and the Heart of the Sky. This wisdom enriched both the ruling dynasty and their people, as they would be working in harmony with the gods. Thus the ruler of the city was also the physical embodiment of the divine, and it is to this that Ajpu is so closely related. Likewise it represents our potential, the state of divinity to which we may aspire.

Ajpu represents the holiness in life, the divinity in the physical world, and our search for it. It is that moment when you look closely at a flower to see the beautiful detail, the moment when you see the magnificence of the landscape you live within, the beauty in your child’s eyes or in the face of your partner. It is the random act of kindness that restores our faith in humanity. It is the search for the underlying meaning in all situations, understanding that each person is a part of the whole. Whether we like it or not, and however we judge it, we are all a part of creation. Our every action, and every action of others gives us the opportunity to explore ourselves and our reaction, whether we are attracted or repelled by the action of others. However, sometimes Ajpu can lead us to become immersed in the other world, to lose sight of reality, it is important to remember to stay in touch with the Heart of the Earth as we reach to the Heart of the Sky.

The number 1 is representative of the seed, of unity. It represents birth and beginnings. It is a low and odd number, which usually represents something challenging. However, the seed can grow into a mighty tree, it is full of potential. It just needs the correct nutrients and conditions to germinate and develop, just as sometimes we need encouragement to develop our ideas.

As the Mayan new solar year approaches I have been thinking about the relationship between the Chol Q’ij, the 260 day Mayan sacred calendar, and the Macewal Q’ij, the 365 day Mayan solar calendar, or ordinary days. In the Macewal Q’ij, “new year” will occur on February 21st in 2016, and because of the lack of an intercalary day, February 20th from 2017 to 2020. The Macewal Q’ij consists of 18 months of 20 days, which are then followed by a period of 5 days known as Wayeb.

Each new solar year, a new year bearer (also known as Mam, grandfather, cargador or Year Lord) takes his seat. There are four year bearers in use here in Guatemala, these are Kej, E’, N’oj and Iq’. They cycle much as the days cycle; 2012 was 13 N’oj, 2013 was 1 Iq’, 2014 was 2 Kej, 2015 was 3 E’ and 2016 will be 4 N’oj. In 2017 the solar year will begin on the day 5 Iq’, so we see the same sequence of year bearers with the number increasing by 1 each time. These are the year bearers currently used by the K’iche’ people of Guatemala. Archaeologists give a slightly different count as they start their count, the Ha’ab, 40 days later. The year bearers are the same, but the number is increased by 1, making 2016 the year 5 N’oj. There is also another count which starts 13 days later, due to an extra 13 days being added in February of 2013, which changed the year bearers. This was known as the “Gran Wayeb” and while this has many logical reasons and has been adopted in some areas, I do not know many indigenous day keepers who have adopted it yet.

The Chol Q’ij consists of 260 days and is commonly seen as 20 periods of 13 days, which are sometimes referred to as trecenas. Each trecena has a different attribute depending on the days involved and their strengths. However, there is another way of counting the Chol Q’ij which co-ordinates it’s movements with that of the Macewal Q’ij; that is by counting 20 day periods. Each month of the solar year begins with a seating day, which is usually given a value of 0, and ends on a day numbered 19. Therefore, the first day of the solar year, consists of two components, and in 2016 will be 4 N’oj 0 Nab’e Mam. After 20 day have elapsed, the solar month will change and the month of Rukub Mam will start on the next N’oj day, the date 12 N’oj 0 Rukub Mam. I have compiled the dates into the table below to show the entire year.

2016

Macewal Q'ij Day

Chol Q’ij day

2017

Macewal Q'ij Day

Chol Q’ij day

Feb 21st

0 Nab'e Mam

4 N’oj

Feb 20th

0 Nab'e Mam

5 Iq’

Mar 12th

0 Rukub' Mam

11 N’oj

Mar 12th

0 Rukub' Mam

12 Iq’

Apr 1st

0 Likin Ka

5 N’oj

Apr 1st

0 Likin Ka

6 Iq’

Apr 21st

0 Nab'e Toqik

12 N’oj

Apr 21st

0 Nab'e Toqik

13 Iq’

May 11th

0 Rukub' Toqik

6 N’oj

May 11th

0 Rukub' Toqik

7 Iq’

May 31st

0 Nab'e Pach

13 N’oj

May 31st

0 Nab'e Pach

1 Iq’

Jun 20th

0 Rukan Pach

7 N’oj

Jun 20th

0 Rukan Pach

8 Iq’

Jul 10th

0 Tz'ikin Q'ij

1 N’oj

Jul 10th

0 Tz'ikin Q'ij

2 Iq’

Jul 30th

0 Kaqan

8 N’oj

Jul 20th

0 Kaqan

9 Iq’

Aug 19th

0 Ib'ota

2 N’oj

Aug 19th

0 Ib'ota

3 Iq’

Sep 8th

0 Q'atik

9 N’oj

Sep 8th

0 Q'atik

10 Iq’

Sep 28th

0 Iskal

3 N’oj

Sep 28th

0 Iskal

4 Iq’

Oct 18th

0 Pariche'

10 N’oj

Oct 18th

0 Pariche'

11 Iq’

Nov 7th

0 Takaxepual

4 N’oj *

Nov 7th

0 Takaxepual

5 Iq’ *

Nov 27th

0 Nab'e Tumuxux

11 N’oj *

Nov 27th

0 Nab'e Tumuxux

12 Iq’ *

Dec 17th

0 Rukub' Tumuxux

5 N’oj *

Dec 17th

0 Rukub' Tumuxux

6 Iq’ *

Jan 6th 2017

0 Qib'ixik

12 N’oj *

Jan 6th 2018

0 Qib'ixik

13 Iq’ *

Jan 26th 2017

0 Uchum

6 N’oj *

Jan 26th 2018

0 Uchum

7 Iq’ *

Feb 15th 2017

0 Wayeb

13 N’oj **

Feb 15th 2018

0 Wayeb

1 Iq' **

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What this table shows is that the bearer of the year presides over each of the Macewal Q’ij months, moving through each of his variations. He moves through the solar year twice, once thirteen times, then the second time five times (marked with a *), then through the Wayeb. The ** on the Wayeb marks that the year bearer only takes his seat for five days, and that it is the year bearer which governed for the previous appearance of this year bearer. For example, 13 N’oj was the year bearer of the year 2012, and 1 Iq’ was the year bearer on 2013. This seems hardly a coincidence and probably relates to the “Ghost” of the previous Mam taking responsibility after the current year bearer has “died”. The Wayeb is known as a time when public ceremony should be avoided, some people do not wash or comb their hair, they may not leave the house. It is a time when the days are unsupported and misfortune may occur.

When these cycles are compared with the life cycle of the maize, possible clarity occurs. The life cycle of the maize, the sustenance and substance of the people is 260 days. If Maize was planted on 21st February, it would be harvested on 7th November, which incidentally also around when rainy season usually ends. The maize grows and ripens, then the plant dies and is doubled over so that it dries out. In this way we see the 260 days as a cycle of life. From the 7th November through to 16th February there is no rain, so new life, the new sprouting of the maize, cannot occur. This is the second period of the year bearer, the 100 days, which could be seen as a journey through the otherworld, the world of the dead. We then have the 5 days of mourning, before the new year bearer takes his seat and the cycle of life begins again.

When a newborn enters the world, the first few days must be rather confusing. As I have mentioned before, we have just entered a new cycle of the Mayan Sacred Calendar, the Chol Q’ij. Whether we take this to be the full new 260 day count, or solely the new 13 day count (trecena) is unimportant, the outcome is more or less the same. With 1 Imox, we had the jumbled fragments of the big dream, full of potential, but muddled. 2 Iq’ brought us an as yet uncertain message that could go either way, the wind that breathes life into the potential. In 3 Aq’ab’al, we see the first results of the energies of the previous two days. This could be a new conception, or something that fails to take root. There are too many uncertainties to be sure of the outcome.

Whilst Aq’ab’al is usually considered a “good” day, a day of new starts, of conception, the number 3 rather mutes these qualities. A possible phrase to associate with this day could be “false dawn”. You may think you can see the first light of the sun, but it may turn out to be a mirage, or just the light of Venus. This is a day when things might not quite be what they seem. If you are waiting to start something, it is not quite the time. You might be all ready and raring to go, only to be confronted by an unexpected challenge. Proceed with caution, or wait for a more conducive day.

On a more positive note, the 3 could represent the home. In order to direct your energy in a more constructive way, planning a new project around your home may be the most beneficial way to spend the day.

A False Dawn? Moonrise over Lake Atitlan, March 2013 – by Mark Elmy

In the Kiche language, the word aq’ab means night. The suffix -al changes the meaning slightly, to hint at change and alludes to the dawning of the day, the time between darkness and light, night and day. Just as birth is the beginning of the mortal journey, Aq’ab’al is the beginning of the day, although the detail of the day may still be obscured. Aq’ab’al is representative of new things, things which are not yet fully formed. While in Santiago Atitlan one day, a friend explained to me the different parts of a weaving in process on a backstrap loom. Aq’ab’al is the warp (the vertical threads), B’atz is the weft (the horizontal threads) which creates the whole cloth, and the newly woven cloth is Kawok. In order for the weaver to create, first she has an idea in her head or a dream. She sets out the dream on her loom by setting up the warp. Thus, the design has passed from being just an idea, to the beginnings of a woven reality, although it still requires creative input before it becomes whole. Aq’ab’al can also represent conception, the fertilised egg is far from ready to be born, but has passed from the dream or spirit world into the physical.

Aq’ab’al days are great days for the start of new things, particularly new relationships – Aq’ab’al has a strong affinity with marriage. It is also a perfect day for starting new projects, or at least bringing them into the world of light from the world of dreams and ideas.

The number 3 is still in the low end of the range of numbers. It does not have much energy yet, and it is also an odd number. It can represent the home, relating to the three hearthstones laid by the creators, and this is probably a good focus for a 3 day. However, it is possibly the most troublesome of the numbers to deal with, it lacks stability and represents challenges and obstructions.

Mayan astrology is system of interpretation based on the Mayan sacred calendar of 260 days. There are at least two different counts of sacred calendar in use; one used by the Maya people, particularly here in highland Guatemala, commonly called the Chol Q’ij or Quiche count; and one used primarily in the “New Age” community often called the Tzolkin.

The cycle of 260 days is a harmonious fragment, a fraction which correlates and interconnects many aspects of our lives and reality. In its expanded form within Mayan Astrology, it can be closely related with the gestation period of human beings. Mayan creation stories relate that humanity was created from maize dough and oil, the maize grown at this latitude also having a life cycle of 260 days between planting (conception) and harvest (birth).

Isn’t astrology connected to the heavens?

Whilst these aspects are obviously terrestrial, the sacred calendar also relates to movements of the planets, particularly Venus and Mars. Mars has a synodic period, the time required to return to the same or approximately the same position relative to the Sun as seen by an observer on the Earth, of 780 days, exactly 3 revolutions of the 260 day calendar. Venus has a 584 day synodic period. During this time venus will appear as a morning star for 236 days, disappear for 90 days, reappear as an evening star for 250 days and finally disappear for 8 days before reappearing as a morning star. When Venus reappears as the morning star, it is not quite in the same position in the sky as the previous cycles. This gives rise to a second part of the harmonic, where the 584 day cycle is actually part of a 2920 day cycle. Venus can be seen in one of five different places, and 2920 days later will be in exactly the same place in the sky. This motion of Venus is recorded in the Dresden Codex, a Maya document from the 11th or 12th century copied from an earlier document created around four centuries earlier. The Venus table as it is known shows the day of the sacred calendar on which Venus will appear or disappear in each of its phases. This table, produced perhaps 1400 years ago is still accurate today. I have been making observations and using the internet to track Venus. Venus appeared on 13th December 2014 as an evening star on the day 11 Iq’ within the Quiche count of the sacred calendar, disappeared on 20th August 2015 on the day 1 E’, and then reappeared as a morning star on the day 9 Ajpu, 28th August 2015, exactly as shown in the table.

In this way we see that even after 1400 years the Quiche sacred calendar is still tied in to the motions of at least two of the closest planets in our solar system, the gestation period of humans and the life cycle of maize. It acts as a bridge between the heart of the sky (movements of the planets) and the heart of the earth (roots of the maize). As such it can be used to determine the interaction of the divine with the earthly plane, or as it we could put it the earthly life path chosen by ones soul.

So how does it apply to people?

According to Mayan astrology, you are born on one of the 260 days of the sacred calendar. This is known as your awach q’ij (face of the sun). It consists of a number between 1 and 13 and one of twenty nawales. Both the numbers and the nawales all have different characteristics. The combination of the number and the nawal is thought to determine your personality, your strengths and your weaknesses.

Additionally, this is modified by the year in which you were born. The 260 day sacred calendar interacts with a 365 day solar calendar known as the Ha’ab. The first day of the Ha’ab is known as the arrival of the Mam, or old man, the carrier of time. This is also known as the day 0 Pop, and colloquially as Mayan new year. Currently this occurs on 21st February, although it moves back 1 day every four years due to the lack of a leap day in the Ha’ab. Due to the way that the calendars engage, somewhat like gears in a clock, the first day of the new solar year can occur on one of only four of the nawales, which are known as year bearers. As there are 4 year bearers and 13 numbers, this gives a 52 ha’ab year cycle which is seen as an important cycle of life. It is said that the 52 years represent the time at which one becomes an elder. We can certainly understand this from more traditional societies, where at 52 years one has accumulated a great deal of knowledge and is probably a grandparent by that age. Within Mayan astrology, when you have completed 52 revolutions of the sun, you have spent a year getting to know each of the year bearers, and hence you have gained knowledge and experience from each of them. This 52 Ha’ab years is equal to 18980 days, or exactly the half way point of the 13 synodic cycles of Venus. The year bearer of the year in which you are born also gives you certain strengths and weaknesses, and in some ways can be seen as giving you a certain potential to fulfil within life. In order to fulfil this potential you receive a skill set from your number and nawal combination, and so both the sacred calendar and the solar calendar are involved in Mayan astrology.

From this combination we can derive a reading, which can help to highlight what qualities you carry, we are able to look beneath the outward personality at your true drives and motivations, what will bring you joy and where your challenges lie. A simple combination of number and nawal can be expanded to give what is known as the Mayan cross, which introduces secondary numbers and nawales representing your past, future, intuitive and physical aspects. This can further be expanded into a nine sign constellation showing the past and future of both your intuitive and physical aspects.

Some nawales carry the energy of the arts, some of plants, some of prayer makers and some of law keepers. However, in our world the idea of working in harmony with that which comes naturally is sacrificed in favour of that which pays well. When your daily work is in harmony with the energy of your nawal, you will have a natural talent at what you do. Most people will find this pleasing as they will be able to enjoy what they do and be successful at it. Mayan astrology can be helpful to people who have reached a crossroads in their life, have become dissatisfied with their profession and are wondering what to do next. It can also be very useful to determine the talents of a young child so that materials which will bring out their natural talents can be made freely available to them.

If you are interested to schedule a reading with me, I am available to make them over Skype. You can contact me here to give me your name and birth information. I charge US$55 for a reading, which I can accept through PayPal. I look forward to hearing from you.